The document discusses the massive growth of data from sources like social media, sensors, and government. It notes that this data presents opportunities for journalists to find untold stories but also discusses the challenges of working with large amounts of data. It provides tips for journalists on learning data visualization skills and effectively presenting data in a way that tells a clear story without being misleading.

1. anymore*
Steve Outing (media futurist, digital-news innovator) • http://mediadisruptus.com • steveouting@gmail.com
* Now anyone can learn to love data
Data and data-visualizations are not boring
(last updated: November 3, 2014)

2. Steve Outing (media futurist, digital-news innovator) • http://mediadisruptus.com • steveouting@gmail.com
Should all journalists learn
data visualization, infographics skills?

3. Steve Outing (media futurist, digital-news innovator) • http://mediadisruptus.com • steveouting@gmail.com
No one can escape the massive
growth of data – especially journalists
Exponential growth in data
Social media data
Sensor data
Mobile-phone sensor data
Government data
Treasure trove of news and
story ideas for journalists
(much not possible in past)
News organizations hiring
more data editors
“Internet of Things” means
even more sensors!

4. Steve Outing (media futurist, digital-news innovator) • http://mediadisruptus.com • steveouting@gmail.com
Rate of growth in data is scary fast
But this presents
enormous opportunity
for journalists to
spot trends and
identify untold stories

5. Steve Outing (media futurist, digital-news innovator) • http://mediadisruptus.com • steveouting@gmail.com
Social media data is a big part of growth
(because we voluntarily share so much)
Tweets per day:
500 million
Source: Twitter
Source: Instagram
Source: Statistica
Facebook per day:
• likes per day: 4.5 billion
• items shared: 4.75 billion
• photos posted: 350 million
Instagram:
• photos per day: 58 million
• “likes” per day: 1.65 billion
Source: Facebook

6. Steve Outing (media futurist, digital-news innovator) • http://mediadisruptus.com • steveouting@gmail.com
Social media analysis tools
find insights in all that data
}The “Social Cocktail”

7. Steve Outing (media futurist, digital-news innovator) • http://mediadisruptus.com • steveouting@gmail.com
Much can be understood by
visualizing social-media data

8. Data in action: Ebola doctor’s
movements from his mobile phone
Steve Outing (media futurist, digital-news innovator) • http://mediadisruptus.com • steveouting@gmail.com

9. Steve Outing (media futurist, digital-news innovator) • http://mediadisruptus.com • steveouting@gmail.com
A data visualization can
tell the story all by itself

10. Steve Outing (media futurist, digital-news innovator) • http://mediadisruptus.com • steveouting@gmail.com
A data visualization can
tell the story mostly by itself

11. Trends
More and more data becoming accessible
(exponential growth)
Data analysis tools available for everyone
(You don’t need a degree in statistics)
Data visualization tools continue to be
easier to use and more powerful
Steve Outing (media futurist, digital-news innovator) • http://mediadisruptus.com • steveouting@gmail.com

12. Great tools … Not easy to master
More powerful,
capable
Static or interactive
or video …
But expensive
Takes time to learn
Steep learning curve
Perhaps too much
for a busy multi-
tasking journalist
Steve Outing (media futurist, digital-news innovator) • http://mediadisruptus.com • steveouting@gmail.com

13. Steve Outing (media futurist, digital-news innovator) • http://mediadisruptus.com • steveouting@gmail.com
More-powerful, easy-to-use tools are here:
Still need Excel and Adobe applications?
Client app: free trial … Or use Tableau Public for free … Embed visualizations on your site

14. Steve Outing (media futurist, digital-news innovator) • http://mediadisruptus.com • steveouting@gmail.com
Example of interactive data
visualization using Tableau

15. Many easier-to-use tools are now
not on desktop: Use them in the cloud
Steve Outing (media futurist, digital-news innovator) • http://mediadisruptus.com • steveouting@gmail.com

16. The problem when data visualization
tools are available for everyone
Steve Outing (media futurist, digital-news innovator) • http://mediadisruptus.com • steveouting@gmail.com
Pretty…
Nearly incomprehensible!!
Effective data visualization…
But a bit plain looking
Sources: Harvard Business Review, JunkCharts.com

17. But even if you’re not an expert,
you can learn the ropes
Bar Chart: As simple as you can get with data visualization
Steve Outing (media futurist, digital-news innovator) • http://mediadisruptus.com • steveouting@gmail.com
Flawed Much better!
No need to turn head to read type

18. What’s wrong with this map?
(So many things!)
Steve Outing (media futurist, digital-news innovator) • http://mediadisruptus.com • steveouting@gmail.com
via Alberto Cairo, University of Miami

19. This is much better
Steve Outing (media futurist, digital-news innovator) • http://mediadisruptus.com • steveouting@gmail.com
via Alberto Cairo, University of Miami

20. Please don’t use data to lie or
misrepresent the real story
Steve Outing (media futurist, digital-news innovator) • http://mediadisruptus.com • steveouting@gmail.com
via Alberto Cairo, University of Miami

21. Steve Outing (media futurist, digital-news innovator) • http://mediadisruptus.com • steveouting@gmail.com
A few data visualization tips
Not all big data is useful data … e.g., Twitter data may not help you
answer some questions, but will help on others
With social-media data, pick the best source(s) … Disqus comments or
Tumblr might be better fit for what you seek; combining sources in “social
cocktail” may yield best insight
Tell a story! … Dont’ just create charts; use data and visualizations as the
means to telling a story
Presentation: How much data, complexity does reader need? … Keep
it as simple as possible in visualization
Data: Attribute your sources; link to source data
Don’t let your numbers lie! … Proper chart form; 0 baseline; etc.
Choose the right chart type for your data … Here’s a handy guide
Design: Don’t clutter with useless illustration
Design follows data!
Design: Keep color blindness in mind … 8-10% males; <1% females

22. ProPublica Nerds Blog
http://www.propublica.org/nerds/
PP’s Tools and Style Guides
https://github.com/propublica/
The Guardian Data Blog
http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog
Texas Tribune: The Data
http://www.texastribune.org/library/data/
Information Aesthetics
http://infosthetics.com
Chart Porn blog
http://chartporn.org
Book: “The Functional Art: An introduction to information
graphics and visualization” - by Alberto Cairo
Good news data-viz resources
Steve Outing (media futurist, digital-news innovator) • http://mediadisruptus.com • steveouting@gmail.com

23. Steve Outing
Media futurist, Digital-news innovator | steveouting@gmail.com
http://mediadisruptus.com
http://www.slideshare.net/steveouting1